Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-06-02
A DISTRESSING sroRY.

Seldom does real life sfToId a more
pathetic stsry than that Of the suicide
Of Professor Charles Sisdh0rf and bis
wife at Jersey City on Tuesday. Sled.
hort was ninety one years Of age, and
bis wife was bis senior by Que year.
They had tuHk TO the lowest depths Of
poverty and At last committed suicide In
order 10 avoid becoming charges upon
the public.
siedhorf was an educated man. lie
had for years made Q precsrioGs living
by leeturipg upon chemistry and other
scientific subjects which are attractive
to the general public. II Is fair to pre-
suwe that both be and his wife were the
possessors Of refined feelings and that
they bitterly felt the humiliation Of
their position. The sting e. poverty Ia
never so keen "a when il is felt by those
who have known prospsiity.
1hirty-hve years ago, the telegrsphie
scoount Of the suicide says, Professor
siedhorf occupied the chair Of chemistry
In the University Of Heidelberg At
that time be was hity-si1 years OF age.
lie was honoTed and respected. lie 90
oupled On acknowledged place In the
world OF science. He had reached an
nae when most men regard the vicissi.
tadss aud changes Of life as past aud
look forward 10 the epioymsnt Of the
henors which they have earned by their
past efforts, Ordinarily, when a man
has reached the age Of fity-six, the
hurly-burly, the hustle aud worry, the
ambitious plans and Disappointing de-
feats, Of bis life are over. The era u
tumult and change has been passed. Il
Ia safe 10 say that not the man out OF
q hundred experiences any violent
change in bis moral, social or financial
condition after be reaches the age Of
itty-six. or coarse, there are men
who detoriorate morally. experience
slight changes 10 their social position or
meet With financial gains or losses after
they have passed that time of life: bot
sach changes ere seldom violent or i'm.
portant. II is the rare exception when
q man who enjoys the honor and re-
speet Of his fellow citizens at the age Of
hfty-siE Afterwards entirely loses bis
position, or when a man who Is able 10
live ia comfort at that age, is ovsFcoma
by poverty.
II Prophe, had appeared thirty i've
years ago to she respected professor Of
Heidelberg. learned. hoBored, crowned
with the gray hairs Witch in bis case
hetoksned wisdom a. well IS years; IL
be bad drawn aside the veil Of futuriiy
aud pointed cot to him. as II ia hoErid
panorama, scene after scene 81 bis fu
tate life; II be had shoWn hin The ste,
down which be would descend. through /
poverty, degradation. despair, 50 a pau /
pst's grave, heV be would have been I
laughed At. How bis prophecy would 4
have been deTsded as the prodseG Of a /
disordertd brain. H5s he woall have F..
been branded as ihe most fslso Of FALSE 4
prophets. One can easily Imagine boS
the sueiec, q bis prophecy wou'd have
turned to him and said "SlF. am =
professor u tie University Of Hridel-
hsfe. ana respected ADD tonoFtd. / F.
am IN tbe g, jaymsnt % an aUpls la.
sous. l osospy = recognized position
to the sciguude wofi3. Ibess things /.
have gained ~ the ums, thoaGht ans
labor Sbich hsyt So iayisbiy ozpsudpd
dufinG tie past year, ~ ny Isfe, aud I
sru nov prepared 60 sri5y that wb,sB /
have Won, to ytgw tie Landscape q hu-
man life from tbs smiEsuca wktch I have
50 psiufaiiy asyaiged. possss she
esteem 81 NY fsl.aS ciliEsas a. vel as
thai % NY fsliass Ia she world q
science, aai should nlstoFtuas aasaii
me-ah utterly impsohAble snppasitieu
-thtfe vculd ts many auxIoes 90 sx-
teud 30 ne tee zsslsi9ges ~hi1h / woald
ust4. Year pfot ksey y iupasstbls q
iulsamtni. ard know .has soa vail .
paFdoa ms, ssr. Il e.oss this bsist go .
yeFsatsen by tsiiias yua saaiiily tbai
yoa are 4 hasasaE, 6iF-an arFans has.
bag 80 tie Fsofessar waald psobA
bly, have taihss ard wao, undes tes